Electrical device.



F. M.- SLOUGH. ELECTRICAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8.1915.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Z SHEETSSHEET 1- r I INVENTOR- g v 1W I ELECTRICAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1915.

Pat-mad Dec. 4,1917.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR.

mar sans an FRANK 1VI. SLOUGH, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO STROMBERG-CARLSON TELEPHONE MFG. 00., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK M. SLoUeI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to signaling systems and I aim to produce from a single source the various kinds of current employed in certain signaling systems. For example, by my invention I produce from a single source of low voltage direct current and employ in a signaling system both alternating current and direct current of higher voltage than the voltage of said source.

My invention is of especial use in connection with telephone signaling systems now pretty generally in use, where automatic ringing is employed. In such systems the ringing apparatus is automatically disconnected through the manipulation of the talking apparatus at the sub-station, when the subscriber responds, and. unless the current is of a higher voltage than that ordinarily employed in the system for other purposes, the disconnection is sometimes a failure. By thus increasing the Voltage from the source, I am enabled to insure a positive operation of the disconnect apparatus, without delicate adjustments or other objectionable and marginal safeguards. Moreover, my invention enables me to utilize the current from the common. battery employed in the system and to utilize the portions of the pole changes already in use in the system, so that I can accomplish these desirable objects with the addition of but little mechanism to that which is practically always installed in exchanges where my invention finds its greatest use.

I also provide a novel connecting circuit, here illustrated as a cord circuit, whereby a calling subscribers telephone may be con- 'nected to 21 called subscribers telephone,

such connecting circuit containing certain novel features incidentalto the making of such connection, incidental to the breaking of such a connection, and to the recording Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. a, 191i "1..

Divided and this application filed November 8,

of the number of connections established by any operator by the means of such a cord circuit. Other features of this connective cord circuit relate to the signals involved, the connecting and disconnecting of the operators telephone from the cord circuit during the act of making the connections required, the applying of the ringing current to the called line and its disconnection,

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a tele- I phone system embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

To better explain my invention, I will refer first to the device illustrated in Fig. 1, where at 4 is shown a source of uni-directional, continuous current of a certain electro-motive force. At 5 is shown a circuit breaker, here including an electromagnet 6 and a vibratory member 7 which may consist of a reed and serve as the armature of the electromagnet 6. The electromagnet 6 is connected in a circuit including a conductor 8, the source of current 4 and a switch 910 controlled by the electromagnet. At 11 is shown a transformer consisting of a core 12 and a plurality of windings 13 and 14, the primary winding 18 being broken up into two windings 15 and 16. Each of the windings 15 and 16 is connected in a circuit including the source 4 and a switch con trolled by the circuit breaker. The winding 14- is connected in a secondary circuit including the conductors 17 and 18.

The transformer which I have described is adapted to convert the intermittent current in the primary into alternating current in the secondary. Each of the windings 15 and 16 is also a secondary to the other of said windings, and each is connected in a secondary circuit including the conductor 19. An alternating current will course through the conductor 19 and means is provided for converting the alternating current therethrough into uni-directional, continuous current. This means may include a transformer 20. The transformer 20 comprises a primary winding 22 in the conductor 19 and. a secondary winding, here shown as two coils 23 and 24 connected upon the core 25 of the transformer. The secondaries 23 and 24.- are connected-to the conductors 26 and 27. The condenser 21 is bridged across these conductors and the conductors are connected to some electro-responsive device, such as a lamp 28.

The operation of the device illustrated inFig. 1 is as follows: When the circuit, including the source 4: and the e'lectromag net 6, is closed, as illustrated in the drawing, the magnet 6 will be energized, attracting the member 7 V and interrupting its own circuit at 9 and 10. When the circuit is interrupted, the reed will draw the member 7 back and close the circuit. This making and breaking of the circuit will continue in a well known manner at a periodicity determined by the natural rate of vibration of the member 7. At the same time, switches 30-31 and 31-32 will be opened and closed with the same frequency. VVh'en the switch 3031 is closed, a circuit will be completed through the winding 16 as follows: ground 33battery 4-winding 16conductor 34 switch 3130conductor 35grou'nd 36, and when the switch 3132 is closed, a similar circuit will be completed through the winding 15 and conductor. 37, causing an intermittent current to flow through the winding 13 and inducing an alternating current in the winding 14: and the circuit ineluding the conductor 17 and 18, according to a well known electrical principle. Moreover, each time the current flows through one of the windings 15 or 16, a current will be induced in; the circuit, including both of these windings, the conductors 40, 11 and 19, and the winding 22 of the transformer 20. Alternating current will thus be induced into a circuit including the winding 22, in the form shown,- of a voltage approximately twiceas high as the voltage of the source 1.

The wave form of the current flowing hroughfthe circuit, including the winding 22, is 'illustrated-atA in Fig. 2. Of course, it will be understood that this form may be varied according to the electrical constants of "the circuits involved. The alternating current in the winding 22 will induce an e'lectro-motive force into the windings 23 and 24-, alternating from positive to nega tive polarity. such alternations being synchronous with the impressed pulsations of current through the primary windings 15 and 16. No current will flow through the circuits including these windings, except when the switches controlled by the magnet 6 in said circuit are closed. The contact 4-1 being carried upon the same reed as the contact 33 in the primary circuit, the contacts 44, -15 will be closed at the same time as the contacts 31, 32 in the primary circuit are closed. Also, whenever the contact 14 contacts with the contact .1-3, the contact 31 would also contact with the contact 30, there being exact synchronism between these sets of contacts as to their time of contact. lVhenever, therefore, the circuit is closed between the contacts 31 and 32 in the primary circuit, the current. flow from the positive to the negative pole of the source 4: will be in such a direction through the transformer winding 15 that an elcctro-motive force will be induced across the winding 23 of the transformer 20, the positive pole of which will be the point 46 intermediate of the two windings 23 and 2t and the nega tive pole of which will be the contact: 45. This would cause the connector 26 to be of negative polarity and the conductor 27 of positive polarity. Again, when the vibrator contacts have advanced to the reversed position, namely, when the contact 31 is in contact with the contact 36, the direction of the current flow from positive side 36 of the source of current 4 would be such through the winding 16 of the transformer as to induce an electro-motive force across the winding of the transformer 20, in which case again the point 46 would be the positive pole and the contact 13 would be the negative pole. Therefore, with the contacts 44-. and 31 vibrating toward and from the magnet 6 in synehronism, uni-directional impulses of clectro-motive force will. be applied to the conductors 26, 27, the conductor 26 being the negative pole of the resultant elcctro-motive force and the conductor 27 being the positive pole. These uni-directional impulses of current charge the condenser 21 which is permanentlyconnected across the conductors 26 and 27, this condenser in turn maintaining the electro-motive force. and causes it tobe continuous, as shown at of Fig. 2, rather than interrupted, as shown at B in Fig. 2. which would be the ch aracl or of current induced were the condenser absent.

I may also provide a condenser 48 bridged across the vibrator contacts 30, 31 and 32 to suppress the sparking at these contacts and to assistin the production of a smooth waved current. The condenser 21, besides having the function previously described, has the additional function of preventing sparking at the contacts 43, 141- and -14, 4-5. It will be understood that the number of turns in the windings may be varied to produce any desired relation between the currents and electro-motive forces produced in the various circuits. The windings 15, 16, 23 and 24: may all be placed upon the same core, if desired. The device illustrated in Fig. 1, thus modified, is shown in Fig. 4;.

I show in Fig. 3 an embodiment of my invention. At A is shown a main station of a telephone system and at B, a telephone line. As is well understood, in practice a number of these lines lead to the main station and means are provided for connecting the lines together, such as a cord circuit. At C I have illustrated such portion of the cord circuit as I deem necessary to explain my invention. The line shown at B is what is known as a party line, and is provided with a plurality of substations illustrated at D, E, F and G. I have illustrated the apparatus at one of these stations alone, though it is well understood that each station is provided with signaling apparatus and talk m apparatus. At 51 is shown such a signa ing instrument as a bell, and at 52, a condenser in series therewith, both being bridged across the line. At 53 is shown a switch hook, at 54 a transmitter and at 55 a receiver, also bridged across the line. The line limbs are shown at 56 and 57, which lead to the main station.

At the main station switching means H are provided for connecting the line and cord together and here consist of a jack J and a plug P, the line limbs terminating upon contacts of the jacks. A line signal 58, a line relay 59 and a cut-off relay 60 are associated with the line B at the main station, in a well known manner. The' plug is provided with contacts to cooperate with the contacts of the jacks, and the plug contacts are connected to conductors in the cord' circuit. The signal current producing apparatus is shown at K, K,, K, and K Means are provided for connecting the apparatus at K to the line, including suitable conductors, a ringing key L, a master key M and a relay N. Means are provided for disconnecting the ringing current, which includes a relay 0.

When it is desired to signal a substation, say the substation G, the plug P is inserted into the jack J. A circuit is completed through the winding of the relay X, through the ground at 74, including the battery 75, contacting terminals of the plug and jack switch H, and cut-ofi' relay 60, which latter is energized, attracting its armatures and disconnecting the line signaling relay 59.

The relay X is energized attracting its armature and closing a switch 129. This switch being closed, the lamp 62 will be lighted, indicating to the operator that the called for subscribers apparatus is in normal condition. The relay R which is controlled by the calling subscribers apparatus, not shown, will have closed a switch 6 l65. After the insertion of the plug, the key L is operated, at the same time operating the master key M and completing a circuit for the relay N as follows: ground at contacts of M-conductor 71relay Nconductor 72contacts 6373contacts e4 65, and contacts 129 to ground at 74 through the battery 75. The relay N will be operated, pulling down the armature 76 and completing a locking circuit for the relay N through the contacts 76-77. The relay N will also attract the armatures 78 and 79, interrupting the strands of the cord circuit at 7 8-30 and 7981 and completing the ringing circuit through the contacts 78-82 and YEP-83. The circuit of the ringing current will then be as follows: from ground at ,90-through the secondary 14E of the trans currents, only closes its contacts in a rapidly intermittent manner, the contacts not being closed long enough to denergize the electro- ,magnet of the relay N; during the ringing period or until the time when the subscriber at G responds, alternating current will be thus applied through the relay 0 to the called line, ringing the bell intermittently. However, as soon as the subscriber at G responds and completes the shunt through the switch 53 and the bridge of his substation set, of the signal bridge at said substation, there will be placed upon this circuit not only alternating signaling current, but also uni-directional, continuous current from the apparatus illustrated at K, and the direct current of the battery 9% will cause the actuation of the relay 0, which will attract its armature 200 and complete a shunt 201 of the relay N for a suiiicient interval to cause the de'e'nergization of the same. As soon as N is deenergized, the armatures 7 8 and 79 will return to the positions illus trated in the drawing, thereby disconnecting the ringing current from the line.

I have in the lower right-hand corner of Fig. 3 shown a symbolic representation of a magneto line and a portion of a cord circuit with which apparatus my invention maybe employed, as will be understood from the previous descriptions.

As explained in connection with Fig. 1, the current taken from the device K is of a character suitable for causing the actuation of the relay O and is preferably of higher voltage than the current from the tems which employ the voltage of the com:

mon battery source, there is frequently trouble, due to the failure of such current to cause the actuation of relay 0 at the desired time, and consequently to insure successful operation of such systems, the length of the lines, as Well as the number of substation thereon, are frequently limited. Long lines, as Well as lines to-Which many substations are connected, are found, espe cially in small exchanges where it is most inconvenient to secure high voltage current. By the use of my invention, 1 provide means for successfully handling the automatic ringing in connection With such lines and utilize the sources of current which are ordinarily employed in such exchanges, at the same time discarding delicate adjustments and uncertain marginal safeguards.

It Will be readily understood that my in vention' is capable of other uses, and that many variations may be made both from the modification illustrated and from the details thereof, Without departiiig from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim 1. In a telephone system, the combination of a main station, a substation, a telephone line leading from the substation to the main station, a substation set at the sub-station, including signaling and talking apparatus,

' signals at the main station, a common source of current for furnishing current to operate the signals at the main station and for talking purposes, means at the main station for operating the signal at the substation, a separate source of current forsupplying current to operate the signal at the substation, automatic disconnect means for disconnect ing said last named source from a telephone line controlled by the talking set of a subscriber, and means at the main station to increase the voltageof said last named source of current, and a circuit for connecting said last named means to the automatic disconnecting means.

2. In a telephone system, the combination of a main station, a substation, a telephone line leading from the substation to the main station, talking apparatus and signaling apparatus at the substation, signal devices at the main station, a source of current for supplying current for talking purposes and for operating the signals at the main station, means for actuating the signal at the substation, automatic disconnect mechanism for disconnecting said last named means from the substation, said disconnect means controlled by the talking apparatus at the substation and apparatus for operating said disconnect mechanism, including said source of current and mechanism for increasing the volt-age of the current therefrom.

3. In a telephone system, the combination of a main station, a telephone line leading to the main station, a substation set on the telephone line including talkingapparatus and signaling apparatus, a source oi current at the main station for talking purposes, apparatus for operating the signaling ap paratus at the substation, mechanism controlled by the talking apparatus at the substation for disconnecting said substation signal operating apparatus from the substation signal apparatus, a circuit for said mechanism including said source of current and means in said circuit to increase the voltage of the current from said source.

4;. In a telephone system, the combination of a main station, a telephone line leading to the main station, a substation set on the telephone line including talking apparatus and signaling apparatus, a source of current at the main station for talking purposes, apparatus for operating the signaling apparatus at the substation, mechanism controlled by the talking apparatus at the substation for disconnecting said substation signal opcrating apparatus from the substation signal apparatus, a circuit including said telephone lineand means in said circuit to increase the voltage of the current from said source 5. Ina telephone system, the combination of a main station, a telephone line leading to the main station, a substation set on said telephone line including talking apparatus and signaling apparatus, a source of current, means to connect the source of current to the telephone line, means-c mtrolled by the talking apparatus at the substation for automatically disconnecting said source from said line, circuit connections for-said source, including said lino, apparatus in said connections for converting current from said source into alternating current of a higher voltage than the current from said source and means including said last named means for converting current from said source into continuous, uni-directional current of a higher voltage than the voltage from said source, said alternating current operating the signaling apparatus at the substation and said higher voltage, uni-directiona], continu ous current operating said disconnect apparatus.

(3. In an electric system, the combination of an electric circuit, including an electroresponsive device, means for impressing upon said circuit a compositeclectro-motivc force, said composite electro-motive force consisting of a plurality of superposed electro-motive forces of dilierent characteristics, a source of electrical energy, apparatus for producing from said source an OlCCtl'O-IHO- tive force of a certain characteristic, and

masses apparatus including said first-named apparatus for producing from said source an electro-motive force of a different characteristic from that produced by the first named apparatus.

7 In an electric system, the combination of an electric circuit, including an electroresponsive device, means for impressing upon said circuit a composite electro-motive force, said composite electromotive force consisting of a plurality of superposed electro-motive forces of different characteristics, a source of electrical energy, apparatus for producing from said source an electromotive force of a certain characteristic, apparatus including said first-named apparatus for producing from said source an electro-motive force of a dilierent characteristic from that produced by the first named apparatus, and means for connecting and disconnecting the electro-motive forces produced by said apparatus from said circuit.

8. In an electric system, the combination of an electric circuit, a plurality of electro-responsive devices in said circuit each responsive to an electric current of a different characteristic from that to which the other is responsive, a source of energy, apparatus for converting the current from said source into current of a character to Which one of said devices is responsive, second apparatus including said first apparatus for convertin the current from said source into current 0' a character to which said second electro-responsive device is responsive, and means for impressing current from each of said apparatuses upon said line contemporaneously.

9. In an electric system, the combination of an electric circuit, an electro-responsive device in said circuit responding to a current of a particular characteristic, a second electro-responsive device in said circuit responding to a current of a difl'erent characteristic, said second electro-responsive device controlling the continuity of said circuit, a source 01": current, apparatus for converting current from said source into current of a characteristicto which said first named device is responsive, and apparatus including said first named apparatus for converting current from said source into current of a character to Which said second named device is responsive.

10. In a telephone system, the combination of a circuit, a subscribers talking set in said circuit, a subscribers signal in said circuit, said signal responding to a current of a certain characteristic, an electro-responsive device in said circuit responding to a current of a certain and difierent characteristic, said electro-responsive device con trolling the continuity of said circuit, a source of current, apparatus to convert current from said source into current adapted to operate the signal at the substation, apparatus including said first named apparatus for converting current from said source into current of a character adapted to operate said electro-responsive device, and means controlled by the subscribers talking set for conditioning said circuit for the operation of said electro-responsive device by current from said last named apparatus.

11. In a telephone system, the combination of a circuit, a subscribers talking set in said circuit, a subscribers signal in said circuit responding to alternating current, a disconnect relay in said circuit responsive to a current of a difierent character, a source of current, apparatus to convert current from said source into alternating current to operate the signal at the substation, mechanism including a part of said apparatus for converting current from said source into current of a character adapted to operate said relay and means controlled by the subscribers talking set for conditioning said circuit for the operation of said relay by the current from said mechanism.

In Witness whereof, I have signed my name this 2nd day of November, 1915.

FRANK M. SLOUGH.

eaten at this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the flommlseioncr er Patents,

Washington, D. t. 

